From
the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) www.arcwp.org
Contact:
Janice Sevre-Duszynska, D.Min. media, rhythmsofthedance1@gmail.com,
859-684-4247
Bishop
Bridget Mary Meehan, sofiabmm@aol.com,
703-505-0004, see www.bridgetmarys.blogspot.com
Jim
Marsh, 518-458-8095 jmarsh315@verizon.net
Kim
Marie Panaro, 518-478-5733 kimpanaro@verizon.net
On
Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 1 p.m., the Association of Roman Catholic Women
Priests (ARCWP) will ordain Kim Marie Panaro and Jim Marsh priests. The
presiding bishop will be Bridget Mary Meehan of Sarasota, FL. The ceremony will
take place at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 405 Washington Ave., Albany,
NY 12206. All are
welcome.
Jim
Marsh of Albany will be the first man ordained a priest by ARCWP. A graduate of Siena College, he trained with
the Franciscan friars. After leaving seminary formation, he served his local
church communities as lector, Eucharistic minister, religious educator, parish
councilor and worked with youth and seniors. “As an out gay man in the 80s, I
experienced what it is being on the margins,” he said, “and I wanted to help
people who were going through the same thing.” So Jim established a DIGNITY
Chapter in the Capital District region of New York and created an interfaith
Eucharist table where all were welcome, including GLBTS. His work in
establishing support services for AIDS victims and families was recognized by
then Governor Mario Cuomo. Jim says he “found home” in Florida at the inclusive
and egalitarian Mary Mother of Jesus Community. He is an active member of the
Upper Room Community in Albany as well.“ I am humbled and grateful that ARCWP
has invited me to participate in this great endeavor. “As a servant leader
priest, I will empower others to be good news and celebrate the holy within,
among and around us.”
Kim
Panaro says her spirituality really started as a youth minister in CYO as a
young teen. “My spiritual path has been rich in women and men who teach and
inspire me. For me, being a mom has been the greatest teacher. The better a
parent you can be that’s where grace comes in,” she said. Kim earned an undergrad in Religious Studies
from the College of St. Rose and a MSW in Social Work from State University of
Albany. She has served as a school social worker for many years. She is also a
community peace and justice activist and has traveled to Nicaragua. Over the
years she learned her spirituality is finding Christ in the margins. “I always
knew I had a calling in the church,” she said. “As a woman priest we don’t need
to wait for permission to do what God calls us to be. As a woman priest I feel
my ordination is to be a witness for Catholics who don’t feel comfortable in the
church anymore. When I start talking to them about my priesthood, they are eager
to listen and want to hear more.” Kim is an active member of the Upper Room
Community in Albany.
In
this Holy Year of Open Doors we call on Pope Francis to move from condemnation
to conversation with the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement. In response to
primacy of conscience, we ordain women in apostolic succession as an issue of
justice and equality in our church. As a gesture of good will we ask our brother
Francis to honor primacy of conscience by dropping excommunication and all
punishments against us and our supporters. As faithful members on the margins of
our church, we believe it is time to share our stories of priestly ministry in
in respectful conversation with Pope Francis and begin a journey toward healing
sexism in our church.
God
created women and men equal: “There is neither male nor female. In Christ you
are one.” (Galatians 3:28) As spiritual equals, all sacraments should be open to
women. God calls both men and women to the priesthood, but Catholic women who
are called are rejected because of their gender.
We
are a renewed priestly ministry within a community of equals. “While we ordain
in apostolic succession, our bishops do not have a hierarchical role,” said
Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan. “Our communities make decisions in a circular
manner. All are welcome in our inclusive faith communities including GLBT
people, divorced and remarried, and non-Catholics.”
As
the body of Christ, we gather around the table to
co-celebrate
the Eucharist (consecrate Eucharist, share the Word of God, and give mutual
blessing).
From
the first ordination on the Danube in 2002 we have grown from 7 to 222 in 13
countries in our international movement. In the US we have 177 serving 65
communities in 31 states.
Jamie
Manson's essay in the National Catholic Reporter:
Three
activist priests dialogue twice with Papal Nuncio:
History
of women's leadership in early Christianity:
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